That old feeling

I spent the majority of my four years of college preparing for papers, writing papers and helping others write papers. That’s how it goes when you decide to go for a degree in creative writing. Aside from the basic gen ed classes, it was learning the craft of writing and reading and analyzing texts.

Now, it’s hard for me not to analyze. A book, a show, a movie, a play, even a song. Pretty sure my professors would love to hear that, but it isn’t always my cup of tea.

I did my time with that work, but it never seems to leave fully. I suppose that’s the point of a solid education: skills that stick with you long after graduation.

I’ve heard from others that, after graduating, they still have those moments of panic where they think they are missing a test or a paper is due or something. It’s those old little habits that our brain had to work with for so long that just come back into play every so often.

Those little things that stick with us, even to the point of annoyance that a little dose of anxiety comes up and slaps us out of nowhere. Why would I have to panic about my British literature paper being late when I haven’t done one in over a year?

And at the same time, why do I need to analyze the content and context of meanings of everything in this book I’m reading solely for pleasure?

Because brains are weird, that’s why.